Military motorcycles auctioned

The auction included rare BMW and Zundapp military outfits, as well as solos from the likes of Victoria, Norton, Velocette and Moto Guzzi, all of which were offered with no reserve. Of particular interest to enthusiasts were a pair of rare American bikes: a Harley-Davidson 'XA'; and Indian '841'.

Harley's XA was essentially a reverse-engineered copy of a BMW. The 45ci capacity was the same as the WLA v-twin, but the XA featured a horizontally-opposed boxer-style engine with twin carbs and the air cleaner mounted on top of the four-speed transmission. Left-side throttle, foot change gear shifting, right-hand clutch lever, plunger style rear suspension, left-side kick starter, and right-side shaft drive were derivations from normal Harley componentry.

Of the approximately 1,000 XA Harleys built, none of which reportedly saw active service, most were sold off by the Army after World War II, or wrecked to provide parts for Harley's regular v-twin models, so there are few survivors. Against a pre-auction estimate of US$25,000 - $35,000, the XA sold for US$40,000 (AU$38,200 approx.).

Like the XA, the 841 differed from conventional Indian practise in that its v-twin engine was arranged transversely, like a Moto Guzzi. This was supposedly to provide better cooling by having the engine cylinders exposed to more passing air. Aside from the layout, the 841's 45ci sidevalve v-twin was fairly standard Indian Scout specification, but featured a lower compression ratio and more restrictive air filter.

A foot gear selector and right hand clutch lever were other features, along with a left hand throttle control (to enable riders to fire weapons with their right hand). Like the XA, the 841 was shaft drive, with lowered gearing to reduce engine wear. Suspension was by girder forks at the front, while the rear was rigid with a sprung saddle.

Like the XA, around 1,000 units of Indian's 841 were produced for testing and assessment by the US Army, but adoption of the Jeep meant production didn't continue beyond the initial batch. Against a pre-auction estimate of US$15,000 - $20,000, the Indian 841 sold for an impressive US$35,500 (AU$33,900 approx.).

Other lots from this auction included a Harley UA sidecar outfit, which made US$38,000 (AU$36,290 approx.), with the BMW R75 and Zundapp KS750 outfits selling for US$38,000 (AU$36,290 approx.) and US$32,000 (AU$30,550 approx.) respectively.

For further details, go to www.auctionsamerica.com

Photography: Auctions America by RM